The New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme (NZARP) was a research program that operated a permanent research facility in
Antarctica from 1959 to 1996. It was created by the Geophysics Division of New Zealand's
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), originally based in
Wellington. The programme promoted research in
geochemistry,
zoology,
geology,
botany,
meteorology, and
limnology.
History
NZARP began as a proposal by the
New Zealand government
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, country = New Zealand
, leader_title = Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
, appointed = Governor-General
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, in 1953, for a research base in Antarctica.
Its mission was to provide support for a variety of scientific fieldwork in Antarctica. Members worked as researchers, assistants, tour guides, operators, and administrators to
Scott Base.
Ground was broken for Scott Base on 10 January 1957. Assembly of the base began 12 January, conducted by the eight men who first assembled the base in Wellington, and was completed by 20 January.
In 1959, the NZARP was established to work with the Ross Dependency Research Committee in the
Ross Dependency (New Zealand's claim to a defined sector in Antarctica).
In 1962, because of the important research being conducted, Scott Base became a permanent research station in Antarctica. The NZARP was in charge of maintaining the base.
They hired people to act as field safety leaders and assist scientists during research projects.
When the DSIR was broken up to form the
Crown Research Institutes in 1992,
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research took over the NZARP.
Accomplishments and expeditions
In 1967, the first
tetrapod remains in Antarctica were discovered by New Zealander Peter Barrett, his finding eventually lending support to the theory of
continental drift. Two years later, in 1969, an NZARP party of six women became the first women to reach the
South Pole.
Some more of NZARP's discoveries include,
Ball Glacier,
Atkinson Glacier,
Findlay Range
The Findlay Range () is a mountain range lying parallel to and west of the Lyttelton Range, extending between Grigg Peak and Sorensen Peak in the Admiralty Mountains of Victoria Land, Antarctica. This topographical feature was so named by the ...
,
Thomas Heights, and
Mount Bradshaw.
Legacy
In 1996, the New Zealand Antarctic Institute—also known as
Antarctica New Zealand
Antarctica New Zealand is an Institute set up by the Government of New Zealand in 1996 to manage its interests in Antarctica and the Ross Sea. As well as providing logistics support to a large scientific programme, it also runs bases such as Sco ...
—took over the work of the NZARP. They now manage all of New Zealand's Antarctic undertakings.
The New Zealand Antarctic Institute also manages other research facilities, in the
McMurdo Sound region, such as the Arrival Heights laboratory, which does atmospheric research.
A two-storey, building was constructed in 2005, as a commissioned work by Antarctica New Zealand. This building, known as the Hillary Field Centre, provides an area for cargo receipt and issue, general and refrigerated storages, offices, gym, briefing and training rooms, and field equipment maintenance among many other uses. Because of this new building, New Zealand's science and environmental programs have been able to expand and improve through the years.
See also
*
List of organizations based in Antarctica
References
External links
A list of members from 1958-2009{{Authority control
Research Programme
A research program (British English: research programme) is a professional network of scientists conducting basic research. The term was used by philosopher of science Imre Lakatos to blend and revise the normative model of science offered by Karl ...
1959 establishments in New Zealand
1996 disestablishments in New Zealand
Antarctic research